Guest edited by Carlijn Cober, dr. Floris Meens and dr. Tom Sintobin, these two issues will focus on representations of female key figures of the European cultural field during the fin de siècle. By combining visual, narrative and historiographical analyses, we aim to gain insight into how female artists, salonnières, scholars and muses both functioned within the cultural field and have been imagined or represented during their lifetime and beyond.

Research questions can concern either literal or figurative interpretations of terms relating to both ‘image’ and ‘narrative’. In the case of literal visual imaginations, possible questions would be: How are these female figures depicted in visual media, such as pictures, films, paintings, sketches and cartoons? Against which background, in what posture, in whose company? Does that depiction follow, establish or transgress norms? How – through what media and in which circles – were these representations established, distributed or consumed, both synchronically and diachronically? What was the (reciprocal) relationship between various forms of representations and the women’s fame? In the case of figural forms, questions could be: How did these famous or influential women construct their own image, or how did others visualize them? How have they functioned within the cultural imagination? How have they been imagined, within which framework, in what role or position, in relation to whom? How have either their image or narrative evolved over time, during their life or ours? How can we render them visible or highlight different perspectives of them?

Three out of ten key figures have already been assembled: Ersilia Caetani-Lovatelli (1840–1925), Cléo de Mérode (1875–1966) and Lou Andreas-Salomé (1861–1937). Seven more articles on other female ‘influencers’ of the fin de siècle will be placed, with an average length of 5000 words (including notes and bibliography). We welcome a wide range of methods and approaches related to this topic, and original interpretations of both ‘image’ and ‘narrative’. Those interested to contribute can submit an abstract of maximum 250 words and a cv to eccemulier.cfp@gmail.com by February 1st, 2019. The deadline for the first drafts will be September 1st, 2019 and the final deadline February 1st, 2020.